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Two automated license plate reader cameras in Auburn were stolen over the weekend, disabled, and later recovered after being dumped in a canal, according to police.

The devices, part of the Flock camera network used for license plate tracking, went dark before officers even realized what had happened, signaling a coordinated act rather than a simple equipment failure.

One camera was installed at Nevada Street and Nevada Way, while the second was positioned at Highway 49 and Margaret Mine Road.

Police Track Devices Through Video Evidence

Auburn Police Sgt. Joe Almeida said the cameras were found offline early Saturday morning, just before the start of his shift at 7 a.m.

Investigators quickly turned to surrounding surveillance footage, piecing together a timeline that showed how the devices were disabled and removed.

“We don’t have a suspect identified at this time because there’s still videos to pull,” Almeida said. “But through video, we were able to ascertain a possible dump location.”

That trail led officers to a canal off Nevada Street, where both stolen cameras were ultimately recovered.

Surveillance Tools Increasingly Targeted

The incident adds to a growing pattern of vandalism against Flock camera systems, which are increasingly deployed across California and other states to track license plates and assist in criminal investigations.

Critics have raised concerns about privacy and surveillance expansion, and similar devices have been damaged or destroyed elsewhere in recent months.

In Oakland, cameras were reportedly spray-painted in a separate incident documented by The Oaklandside. In La Mesa, FOX 5 San Diego reported that two Flock cameras were destroyed in March, with one found smashed and another missing its camera unit entirely.

Wide Use Across Sacramento Region Law Enforcement

Despite controversy, license plate readers remain widely used across the region.

The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, along with police departments in Elk Grove and Woodland, have all adopted the technology. In Placer County, agencies in Roseville, Rocklin, and Lincoln also operate similar systems.

Auburn police say the technology plays a key role in investigations by allowing officers to search past vehicle movements and receive real-time alerts tied to “hotlist” vehicles.

According to the department’s transparency statement, the system is designed to support investigations without directly identifying individuals.

“Auburn CA PD utilizes retroactive search to solve crimes after they’ve occurred,” the department’s website states. “Additionally, Auburn CA PD utilizes real time alerting of hotlist vehicles to capture wanted criminals.”

Investigation Ongoing After Targeted Theft

While the cameras have been recovered, the investigation into who disabled and dumped them remains open.

Police say the act appears intentional, and detectives continue reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying those responsible for turning a high-tech crime-fighting tool into debris in a canal.